Top Five Moments from Beyoncé’s “Homecoming”

Take note of some of the most memorable moments from Beyoncé’s legendary “Homecoming” during your 100th viewing.

Written by Delaney Davis

Beyoncé’s documentary about her iconic 2018 Coachella headlining performance, “Homecoming,” dropped less than a month ago, but it has already taken the music industry by storm. Take a look at the top five major moments from the historic film.

1. That Iconic Opening

More than a year after Beyonce’s first Coachella performance, the opening of the artist’s set is still powerful enough to give anyone chills. The high-quality video and audio recording allows for a much better viewing experience than the 2018 livestream audiences used to watch Beychella. The first few beats played by the brass band harken back to the performance’s debut, where no one knew exactly what to expect –– except that Coachella would never be the same.

2. Destiny’s Child Reunites

Beyoncé’s set featured a host of various surprise guests, but perhaps none caused the same nostalgia as Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, who, along with Beyoncé, made up the legendary girl group Destiny’s Child. The trio teamed up to perform three of their biggest hits: “Lose My Breath,” “Say My Name,” and “Soldier (featuring T.I. and Lil Wayne). Their entertaining performance reminded us that the group has still got it, though there was never really any doubt.

3. The Celebration of HBCUs

“Homecoming” was a tribute to black culture, specifically HBCU (historically black colleges and universities) culture. As the documentary shows, Beyoncé curated each and every element of the performance to honor one of the few environments in which black culture is openly celebrated. The black orchestra was picked to mimic the trademark HBCU brass sound, which relies heavily on trumpets, trombones, and tubas. Her iconic yellow hoodie had the Greek letters “Beta Delta Kappa” emblazoned on the front, a reference to a fictional sorority, as well as “The Divine Nine” — the black Greek organizations founded in America starting in 1906. Her performance of “Sorry” included a traditional probate — the ceremony in which new members of the black letter organization are presented to the public, often featuring a step or stroll.

This unprecedented celebration of black culture had an impact on not only the audience, but the performance’s cast as well. In particular, the film focused on Edidiong Emah, a baton-twirler who captivated the audience with her rhythmic routine during a brass band rendition of “Party.” Emah tells her story of growing up as a Nigerian immigrant, never believing she would find success because she thought she would be “too short” and “too thick.” She concludes her message by recounting how influential it is to have HBCUs represented on a platform as prolific as Coachella. Her feature highlights the salience of the quote that precedes her interview: “You can’t be what you can’t see.” - Marian Wright Edelman

4. Blue Ivy’s Singing Debut

Not only did “Homecoming” give insight into the effort needed to produce Beyoncé’s iconic Coachella performance, but it gave us a rare look at the Carter family. One of the most heartwarming moments of the film happens when Beyoncé’s oldest, Blue Ivy Carter, gives an adorable rendition of “Life Ev’ry Voice and Sing.” Blue shows the same love of performance as her mother, even telling the camera “I want to do that again.”

5. “Get Me Bodied” featuring Solange

During a rendition of “Get Me Bodied” from her 2006 album B’Day, Queen Bey brought out her younger sister and fellow musician, Solange. The duo teamed up for a synchronized dance routine during the song’s finale, adorably falling on the ground hugging onstage during the second weekend of Coachella. Just another reminder that Beyoncé and Solange are the sibling duo that rules the music industry.

Attempting to select just five moments from “Homecoming” to highlight was a near impossible feat. These five moments are among the many that made Beyoncé’s Coachella performance the sensation that it still is. Never before has a performance combined music, social commentary, and fashion at such a high caliber. “Homecoming” is a brilliant documentary that highlights the blood, sweat, and tears that went into creating a musical moment so great.

“Homecoming” is available to stream on Netflix.